Guest of the Jury of Sunday Jury on IRADIO, this Sunday, May 4, Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal, called on the authorities to limit the proceedings for the dissemination of false news. He also spoke about respecting the right to demonstrate. For the human rights defender, “when you governs, you should not make every time”.
“We can observe tangible progress. Increasingly, prefects tend to allow demonstrations and supervise them when they are declared, even if difficulties remain in Dakar, “he noted. He mentioned in particular the constraints linked to urban planning, such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which now borrows the main axes previously used for demonstrations, such as boulevards Mamadou Dia and Bourguiba, or the place of the Nation, which has become unsuitable. “The prefect believes that a major demonstration could block traffic. On this point, we agree with him. But we too, civil society, political parties, unions, must be flexible, in order to find agreements and be able to demonstrate despite everything, “said Seydi Gassama.
He then expressed his concerns about freedom of expression. “The concerns remain lively, because prosecutors tend to self -risk as soon as a offense, such as defamation or the dissemination of false news, is committed. However, the Minister of Justice remains responsible for the country’s criminal policy. Pending in -depth reforms to guarantee these essential freedoms for democracy, we believe that these prosecution must be limited, said the boss of Amnesty International Senegal ”
Seydi Gassama thus called for more deductions: “It is necessary to give instructions to the different parties so that they avoid self-seal systematically, except in the event of serious public disorder. We do not see why someone should be prosecuted for broadcasting false news. “He cited the example of the rector of the University of Thiès, wrongly accused of having dismissed employees:” He simply published a press release to deny. He didn’t need to file a complaint for disseminating false news. When you governs, you shouldn’t make every time. If you do, you will end up putting a lot of people in prison. »»
And to conclude: “So you have to be tolerance, avoid filing a complaint or self -suffering all the time. Because these practices, when they repeat themselves, end up becoming international negative symbols. People no longer retain details, they only retain artists or opponents are imprisoned. And this is what contributed to the unpopularity of Macky Sall internationally. »»
